Device and Method for Assisting a Driver of an Autonomous Vehicle

Abstract

A device for assisting a driver of a vehicle with at least partially automated longitudinal and/or lateral control. The device is designed to determine automation information with respect to the level of automation of the longitudinal and/or lateral control that is being used to operate the vehicle. The device is also designed to adjust the dimensions of a light signal, produced by a lighting element of the vehicle, according to the automation information.

Claims

1.-11. (canceled)

12. A device for assisting a driver of a vehicle equipped with at least partially automated longitudinal and/or lateral control, comprising: a control unit operatively configured to: determine automation information with respect to a degree of automation of the longitudinal and/or lateral control that is being used to operate; and set a dimension of a light signal generated by a lighting element of the vehicle as a function of the automation information.

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein the dimension of the light signal is set as a function of the degree of automation.

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the lighting element is designed to generate light signals having different lengths, and the control unit is configured to adapt a length of the light signal generated by the lighting element as a function of the degree of automation.

15. The device according to claim 13, wherein the control unit is configured to: effectuate a light signal having a dimension greater than a dimension threshold value when the automation information indicates that the degree of automation is greater than an automation threshold value, and/or effectuate a light signal having a dimension less than the dimension threshold value when the automation information indicates that the degree of automation is less than the automation threshold value.

16. The device according to claim 15, wherein the automation threshold value is a defined SAE level.

17. The device according to claim 12, wherein the control unit is configured to: increase the dimension of the light signal with an increasing degree of automation; and/or reduce the dimension of the light signal with a decreasing degree of automation.

18. The device according to claim 12, wherein the vehicle has a plurality of different degrees of automation, and the control unit is configured to set the dimension of the generated light signal step-by-step as a function of the respective existing degree of automation from the plurality of different degrees of automation.

19. The device according to claim 12, wherein the lighting element is designed such that a maximum possible dimension of the generated light signal is recognizable to the driver of the vehicle, even when the lighting element does not generate a light signal, the vehicle has a maximum possible degree of automation of the longitudinal and/or lateral control, and the control unit is configured to: effectuate a light signal having maximum possible dimension when the automation information indicates that the vehicle is operated using the maximum possible degree of automation of the longitudinal and/or lateral control; and effectuate a light signal having a dimension less than the maximum possible dimension when the automation information indicates that the vehicle is operated using a degree of automation which is less than the maximum possible degree of automation.

20. The device according to claim 12, wherein the vehicle comprises a steering wheel, and the lighting element is arranged on the steering wheel.

21. The device according to claim 20, wherein the lighting element is arranged on a steering wheel rim and/or on one or more spokes of the steering wheel.

22. The device according to claim 20, wherein the lighting element extends linearly along at least 25% of the circumference of the steering wheel rim, the control unit is configured to effectuate that a linear light signal is generated by the linear lighting element, and the length of the light signal is dependent on the degree of automation of the longitudinal and/or lateral control being used to operate the vehicle.

23. The device according to claim 12, wherein the lighting element is designed to generate light signals in different colors, and the control unit is configured to set a color of the light signal as a function of the degree of automation of the longitudinal and/or lateral control being used to operate the vehicle.

24. The device according to claim 12, wherein the automation information indicates an SAE level, according to which the vehicle is operated, and the lighting element is designed to generate light signals of different dimensions for different SAE levels.

25. A method for assisting a driver of a vehicle equipped with at least partially automated longitudinal and/or lateral control, the method comprising: determining automation information with respect to a degree of automation of the longitudinal and/or lateral control being used to operate the vehicle; and setting a dimension of a light signal generated by a lighting element of the vehicle as a function of the degree of automation.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] FIG. 1A shows exemplary components of a vehicle;

[0035] FIG. 1B shows an exemplary steering wheel of a vehicle;

[0036] FIG. 2A shows an exemplary lighting element which indicates a relatively high degree of automation;

[0037] FIG. 2B shows an exemplary lighting element which indicates a relatively low degree of automation; and

[0038] FIG. 3 is a flow chart of an exemplary method for assisting a driver of a vehicle which has different driving functions having different degrees of automation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0039] As described at the outset, the present document relates to the efficient and reliable assistance of a driver of a vehicle, which has different driving functions having different degrees of automation. In this context, FIG. 1A shows exemplary components of a vehicle 100, in particular a motor vehicle. The vehicle 100 comprises one or more surroundings sensors 102, which are configured to acquire sensor data (in this document also referred to as surroundings data) with respect to the surroundings of the vehicle 100. Exemplary surroundings sensors 102 are a camera, a radar sensor, a lidar sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, etc.

[0040] The vehicle 100 furthermore comprises one or more longitudinal and/or lateral control actuators 103 (e.g., a drive motor, a braking device, a steering device, etc.), which are configured to longitudinally and/or laterally control the vehicle 100 automatically or in an automated manner. A control unit 101 (or a device) of the vehicle 100 can be configured to operate the one or more longitudinal and/or lateral control actuators 103 of the vehicle as a function of the surroundings data in order to longitudinally and/or laterally control the vehicle 100 in an automated manner (in particular according to SAE level 1, according to SAE level 2, according to SAE level 3, or higher).

[0041] The vehicle 100 comprises one or more manual control devices 105, which enable the driver of the vehicle 100 to make manual control inputs with respect to the longitudinal and/or lateral control of the vehicle 100. Exemplary control devices 105 are: a steering wheel, brake pedal, and/or an accelerator pedal. The control unit 101 can be configured (in particular when the vehicle 100 is operated in a manual driving mode) to detect a manual control input at a manual control device 105 of the vehicle 100. Furthermore, the control unit 101 can be configured to operate the one or more longitudinal and/or lateral control actuators 103 of the vehicle 100 as a function of the manual control input, in particular to enable the driver of the vehicle 100 to longitudinally and/or laterally control the vehicle 100 manually.

[0042] The vehicle 100 can comprise a user interface 106, which enables an interaction between the vehicle 100 and the driver of the vehicle 100. The user interface 106 can comprise one or more operating elements (e.g., a button, a rotary knob, etc.) and/or one or more output elements (e.g., a display screen, a lighting element, a loudspeaker, etc.). The control unit 101 can be configured to output an optical, haptic, and/or acoustic notice to the driver of the vehicle 100 via the user interface 106. Furthermore, it can be made possible for the driver of the vehicle 100 to activate or deactivate one or more driving functions having different degrees of automation via the user interface 106.

[0043] FIG. 1B shows exemplary components of a vehicle 100 at the driver position of the vehicle 100. In particular, FIG. 1B shows a steering wheel 110 as an exemplary manual control device 105, which enables the driver of the vehicle 100 to steer the vehicle 100 manually. One or more touch sensors (not shown) can be arranged on the steering wheel 110, which are configured to detect whether the driver of the vehicle 100 touches the steering wheel 110 with at least one hand. The control unit 101 can be configured to determine on the basis of the sensor data of the one or more touch sensors of the steering wheel 110 whether the driver of the vehicle 100 is touching the steering wheel 110 with at least one hand, touches it with two hands, or does not touch it. Furthermore, FIG. 1B shows a display screen 116 and a loudspeaker 117 as exemplary components of the user interface 106.

[0044] The steering wheel 110 furthermore has one or more lighting elements 111, 112, which can be activated or deactivated. A lighting element 111, 112 preferably has an elongated shape. In particular, a lighting element 111, 112 can be designed in such a way that the lighting element 111, 112 extends linearly along the circumference of the steering wheel rim 115. For example, a lighting element 111, 112 can extend over an angle range of 45° or more, in particular of 90° or 120° or more, along the circumference of the steering wheel rim 115.

[0045] A linear lighting element 111, 112 can have a plurality of partial segments (each having one or more LEDs), which can each be activated or deactivated individually. In other words, a linear lighting element 111, 112 can be designed in such a way that if needed only a part of the lighting element 111, 112 is activated, so that the length of a linear light signal emitted by the lighting element 111, 112 can be changed, in particular reduced or increased.

[0046] FIGS. 2A and 2B show exemplary linear light signals 202 which can be generated using the one or more lighting elements 111, 112. In particular, FIG. 2A shows a light signal 202 having a relatively large length 201 and FIG. 2B shows a light signal 202 having a relatively small length 201. The one or more lighting elements 111, 112 can be designed, for example, in such a way that the length 201 of the respective generated light signals 202 can be changed in multiple steps (shown by the dashes in FIGS. 2A and 2B). For example, 3 or more or 5 or more steps can be enabled (for a corresponding number of different degrees of automation).

[0047] The vehicle 100 can thus have at least one lighting element 111, 112, which is designed to change the geometry and/or the shape of a light signal 202 that is emitted by the respective light signal 202. In particular the dimension, for example, the length 201, of the light signal 202 can be changed in this case.

[0048] As described at the outset, the vehicle 100 can have different driving functions each having different degrees of automation, in particular each having different SAE levels. Exemplary driving functions having an SAE level 1 are driver assistance functions such as adaptive cruise control (ACC) or a lane keeping assistant. Exemplary functions having an SAE level 2 are a combination of ACC and lane keeping assistant or an overtaking assistant or parking assistant. An exemplary driving function having an SAE level 3 is a freeway assistant.

[0049] The requirements for the driver of the vehicle 100 are typically different for the different degrees of automation. For example, the driver of the vehicle 100 in the case of a driving function according to SAE level 1 typically has to keep both hands on the steering wheel 110 and/or he has to monitor the vehicle 100 continuously. In the case of a driving function according to SAE level 2, it can possibly be sufficient if the driver of the vehicle 100 only keeps one hand on the steering wheel 110, wherein typically the vehicle 100 still has to be continuously monitored. In the case of a driving function from SAE level 3, it can possibly be enabled that the driver of the vehicle 100 takes their hands from the steering wheel 110 and at least temporarily no longer monitors the vehicle 100.

[0050] The driving behavior of the vehicle 100 can also be similar or identical in the case of different driving functions having different degrees of automation. In particular, it can be difficult or impossible for the driver of the vehicle 100 to recognize solely on the basis of the driving behavior of the vehicle 100 which driving function is active and/or with which degree of automation, in particular with which SAE level, the vehicle 100 is operated at a specific point in time. As a result, it can possibly be unclear for the driver of the vehicle 100 at a specific point in time which driving task he is to perform himself and/or to what extent the longitudinal and/or lateral control of the vehicle 100 is performed automatically. For example, it can be unclear for the driver whether or not the steering wheel 110 has to be held at a specific point in time, or whether on the contrary the steering wheel 110 is not supposed to be held (so as not to negatively affect the automated lateral control of the vehicle 100).

[0051] The control unit 101 of the vehicle 100 can be configured to determine, at a specific point in time, automation information with respect to the degree of automation, in particular with respect to the SAE level, of the vehicle 100 at the specific point in time. The automation information can indicate in particular with which degree of automation the vehicle 100 is operated at the specific point in time.

[0052] Furthermore, the control unit 101 can be configured to adapt the geometry, in particular the dimension, of the light signal 202 generated by at least one lighting element 111, 112 of the vehicle 100 as a function of the automation information. In particular, the length 201 of the generated light signal 202 can be increased with rising degree of automation or reduced with sinking degree of automation. The light signal 202 shown in FIG. 2A can be used, for example, to indicate a relatively high degree of automation, for example, a degree of automation according to SAE level 3 or higher. On the other hand, the light signal 202 shown in FIG. 2B can be used, for example, to indicate a relatively low degree of automation, for example, a degree of automation according to SAE level 2 or SAE level 1.

[0053] A lighting element 111, 112 on the steering wheel 110, in particular on the steering wheel rim 115 or on the one or more spokes 114 of the steering wheel 110, is preferably used to indicate the degree of automation. The steering wheel 110 is located in the immediate vicinity of the driver, directly in front of the driver, and is therefore suitable in a particularly advantageous manner to indicate the degree of automation. Furthermore, an obligation is possibly connected to the respective degree of automation to grasp the steering wheel rim 115 of the vehicle 100 using one or both hands. The driver of the vehicle 100 can be notified of this obligation in a particularly comfortable and reliable manner by the use of a lighting element 111, 112 directly on the steering wheel rim 115.

[0054] A quantification of the assistance (e.g., relatively much, relatively little, or more than in comparison to previously) and/or the responsibility of the driver can thus be represented via at least one lighting element 111, 112 of the vehicle 100. For example, it can be indicated to the driver at SAE level 2 (for example, ACC plus lane keeping assistance, or parking) and/or at SAE level 3, that the driver no longer has to actively intervene in the lateral control of the vehicle 100 (for example by steering) and/or in the longitudinal control of the vehicle 100 (e.g., by braking, by giving gas, or by setting the distance to the front vehicle). Furthermore, it can be made recognizable to the driver that during a parking function, hands-on is not required, so that the driver can or should take the hands from the steering wheel 110. The different tasks of the driver with different degrees of automation can be communicated in an efficient and clear manner by the display operating concept described in this document.

[0055] In particular, a differentiation with respect to the responsibility of the driver can be indicated via one or more lighting elements 111, 112 in the spokes 114 and/or on the steering wheel rim 115 of the steering wheel 110 via a geometric coding. The more automation is active at a point in time, the larger the actively illuminated component of the one or more lighting elements 111, 112 can be.

[0056] In addition to the geometric coding, a color differentiation can possibly be made between the different degrees of automation (for example, SAE level 2=green or SAE level 3=blue). The differentiation between different degrees of automation can thus be communicated in a particularly clear manner. However, the degree of the assistance of the driver, i.e., the degree of automation, is already recognizable at a glance for the driver due to a geometric coding.

[0057] FIG. 3 shows a flow chart of an exemplary (computer-implemented) method 300 for assisting a driver of a vehicle 100 having at least partially automated longitudinal and/or lateral control. The vehicle 100 can have different driving functions for automated longitudinal and/or lateral control of the vehicle 100, wherein the different driving functions have different degrees of automation, in particular different SAE levels. Alternatively or additionally, the different driving functions (possibly complementary to the respective degree of automation) can have different requirement levels with respect to the cooperation of the driver of the vehicle 100. The requirement level for the cooperation of the driver typically sinks with rising degree of automation of the longitudinal and/or lateral control (and/or vice versa).

[0058] The method 300 comprises the determination 301 of automation information with respect to the degree of automation of the longitudinal and/or lateral control, using which the vehicle 100 is operated. In particular, it can be determined which one or more driving functions were activated (possibly by the driver) or are active. The (current) degree of automation can then result from the one or more driving functions active (at the respective point in time).

[0059] The method 300 furthermore comprises the setting 302 of the dimension of a light signal 202 generated by a lighting element 111, 112 of the vehicle 100 (in the interior or in the passenger compartment of the vehicle 100) as a function of the automation information, in particular as a function of the (current) degree of automation. It can thus be effectuated that the (respective current) degree of automation is indicated by the dimension, in particular by the length 201, of a (currently) generated light signal 202.

[0060] By way of the measures described in this document, the driver of a vehicle 100 which has driving functions having different degrees of automation can be assisted in a particularly comfortable and safe manner in the control of the vehicle 100. The safety of the vehicle 100 can thus be increased.

[0061] The present invention is not restricted to the exemplary embodiments shown. In particular, it is to be noted that the description and the figures are only to illustrate the principle of the proposed methods, devices, and systems by way of example.